Catasetum - To water or not to water ?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Around 2 years late here with my post. But after seeing advice/recommendations about watering new root growths will kill the roots etc......... I just had to have a serious think about the validity of it ------- and I'm just thinking about what happens in nature..... or what could happen in nature.

This kind of experimenting --- ie. watering new roots --- is definitely welcome. And more results from other people investigating into this will also be very welcome - so that we can get to the bottom or root of this avoid-watering of new roots recommendation.

I'm thinking along the lines of what Ray says about air-circulation. As long as the water isn't allowed to stagnate in any particular section around a root, and new air can get to the water and flow over or around it, then things should be ok.

This is exactly why I dislike the posts that claim to water when it isn't necessary. People who aren't familiar with the group will extrapolate and start watering their Catasetums early. Why would you make your life harder and water a plant that doesn't need/want water? In nature they get dry conditions, hence their proclivity for dry conditions half the year.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Why would you make your life harder and water a plant that doesn't need/want water? In nature they get dry conditions, hence their proclivity for dry conditions half the year.

It's true what you mentioned. The plants have pseudo-bulbs that stores water, and the orchids in nature can acquire water from moisture in the air.

It will be just handy to know whether or not it is ok to water new roots. Or if watering new roots is done - even if not needed (since the plant can't take up much water when there are hardly any roots on it) - then will there be conditions where the plant can get through totally unharmed and unscathed.

[orchidsarefun]

I've switched to watering all my dormant ( leafless ) catasetums 1x per week. I've had documented success - see various threads.
However it's important to emphasize -
Watering is on opposite side of pot to new growth/ possible new growth Not directly on new roots or growths. Watering is increased when leaf growth takes off.
I do not use pure sphagnum. Even 1x per week watering with sphagnum may be too much, depending on your indoor humidity levels.
I grow various terrestrial orchids and my catasetum watering experiment has helped in my cultivation of these.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Not directly on new roots or growths.

We've been having huge rains over here - big monsoon, and new roots are coming out of a bunch of the Fdk plants ..... and rain had been keeping the new roots wet for at least a week ----- and the roots just keep getting longer and longer. The roots are growing at a nice rate. So this is why I'm questioning some youtube videos about avoid watering new roots.

[isurus79]

Looks good!

[orchidsarefun]

Growths around 9+ inches tall. I'm watering regularly and have added osmocote fertilizer as a top dressing. Pot is permanently standing in a saucer of water. In a South facing window, unfortunately a while before it can go outdoors.

[orchidsarefun]

2 weeks later. Shows how fast these grow...

[gngrhill]

Mine has a tiny , one inch new growth, but the tips of the leaves are brown. Any help ??
My other has a bud sized new growth started so I am trying a little water on the back side of the pot.
What do you use for medium ??

[orchidsarefun]

Mine grew to this large size, I'm convinced, because I used to use 1 year old horse manure in bottom third of pot. Rest of mix was bark and sphagnum. The current mix is mostly bark/sphagnum because the roots basically fill the pot.
When these go outside I also top dress with a teaspoon of bone meal and blood meal respectively. Plus osmocote.
I don't know why the leaf tips would brown on yours.

[gngrhill]

Thanks for the tips